YOUR IDEA: NB We are now closed to new applications from Ashby, Measham and Moira Community Forum Area

How do I apply?

If you have a bright idea for a project that would bring improvement to your Community Forum area, and would like a share of the Community Forum Budget to make your project idea a reality, please continue reading.

To be eligible to receive funding, you will need to apply on behalf of:
• Voluntary and community sector organisations including constituted local groups and charities that operate a ‘not-for-profit’ business model and which aim to meet the needs of, and make a positive difference to, the local community.
• Parish Councils, local authorities and other statutory agencies.

Individuals, businesses, political groups and academic institutions are not eligible to receive funding. Applications from social enterprises and schools may however be considered.

Community Forum Budget funding can be used to support a wide range of new and existing projects and activities – so long as they can demonstrate they are appropriate, feasible and sustainable by considering the following:

• Are you looking for a contribution of up to £5,000?
• Will your project or activity be completed by March 31st 2013?
• Will your project or activity benefit the local area?

The Community Forum Budget is not a regular grant fund.
To receive a share of the Community Forum Budget for your community projects, there are a number of steps you will need to take:

STEP 1: READ THE GUIDANCE NOTES FOR APPLICANTS
STEP 2: SUBMIT A PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM
STEP 3: PREPARE FOR THE COMMUNITY FORUM BUDGET DECISION NIGHT
STEP 4: TAKE PART IN THE COMMUNITY FORUM BUDGET DECISION NIGHT
STEP 5: LIAISE WITH COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICERS
STEP 6: DELIVER YOUR PROJECT

STEP 1: READ THE GUIDANCE NOTES FOR APPLICANTS

Please read the Guidance Notes for applicants carefully. They contain important details of the funding criteria and the allocation process. Please call 0116 305 7034 if you have any queries, or if you would like to order a paper copy of the guidance notes.

STEP 2: SUBMIT A PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

To apply for funding, you will need to complete and submit a Project Proposal Form, which includes basic information on what the project is hoping to deliver, how much the project will cost, where additional funding is coming from and so on.

We are now closed to new applications from Ashby, Measham and Moira Community Forum Area.

You need to submit your project proposal form by midnight on 22nd May 2012.

NB: Each Forum has its individual deadline, so please check carefully if submitting to several forums.

We hope we have made the Project Proposal Form simple and straightforward to fill out, but please feel free to contact us if you require any support or advice in filling out the Form.

We will make a summary of your project application available on the Leicestershire Forums website. This enables local residents and other interested people to comment on your proposal and/or make suggestions for improvement.

We will also share your application with an Expert Panel to get their professional views on your proposal. The Expert Panel will provide a short feedback report on your proposal, which will be presented at the Community Forum Budget Decision Night.

STEP 3: PREPARE FOR THE COMMUNITY FORUM BUDGET DECISION NIGHT

The Decision Night is the key event in the allocation process as project representatives, local residents and Councillors come together to prioritise the projects that have been submitted for the Forum area.

At the decision night:
- One or more representatives of your project will need to do a 120 seconds presentation to other delegates about the essence of your project proposal.
- Representatives of your project will also need to engage in discussions about your project proposal with other delegates. In turn, they can engage in discussions about other project proposals.
You can prepare for this by:
- Preparing your 120 seconds presentation in advance. You can use powerpoint and other visual aids as part of your presentation, which you can send to us in advance or bring on a memory stick on the night.
- View and comment on the other project proposals for your local Forum via the website. We can make paper copies of project proposals available on request.

For your project, we are able to reserve 4 places at the Decision Night for representatives of your project. You will need to indicate who they are on the Project Proposal Form.

If you want to encourage further supporters of your project to participate in the Decision Night, please note that a limited number of additional spaces for local residents will also be made available on a first come, first served basis. Booking will be required for these additional spaces and will start at noon on 23rd May 2012.

During this step, you can also encourage people to submit comments and suggestions on your project proposal via the Leicestershire Forums website. You can comment on your own projects as well, but it would help if you indicate your involvement in the project when doing so.

STEP 4: TAKE PART IN THE COMMUNITY FORUM BUDGET DECISION NIGHT

Your local Decision Night will take place from 6-9pm on 12th June 2012 in Ashby de la Zouch.

The Decision Night is the key event in the allocation process as project representatives, local residents and Councillors come together to prioritise the projects that have been submitted for the Forum area. In effect, they will decide on the night which projects are to receive a share of the available Community Forum Budget.

NB At least one representative for your project proposal will need to attend this event. Failure to attend will result in the project proposal being withdrawn from the process

One or more representatives of your project will need to do a 120 seconds presentation to other delegates about the essence of your project proposal.
Representatives of the project will also:
- receive feedback from the Expert Panel about your project proposal. This feedback could include information about
o Aspects the panel considers particularly positive about your proposal
o How the panel feels your proposal could be further enhanced
o Issues that would need to be resolved before funding could be allocated
o Alternative / additional sources of funding that may be available to your project
- receive feedback that was provided by residents using the Forums website
- need to engage in discussions about your project proposal with other delegates. In turn, they can engage in discussions about other project proposals.
- Participate in prioritising all project proposals and voting for their favourite projects, alongside other delegates at the Decision Night.

At the end of the night, you will know if your project has provisionally been allocated a share of the Community Forum Budget.

For your project, we are able to reserve 4 places at the Decision Night for representatives of your project. You will need to indicate who they are on the Project Proposal Form.

If you want to encourage further supporters of your project to participate in the Decision Night, please note that a limited number of additional spaces for local residents will also be made available on a first come, first served basis. Booking will be required for these additional spaces and will start at noon on 23rd May 2012.

STEP 5: LIAISE WITH COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICERS

If your project was successful at step 4, you will now need to liaise with Leicestershire County Council staff, who will need to check that all necessary criteria have been met in order for funding to be released. Once they are satisfied, an offer letter will be issued, which you will need to sign and return.

If your project was not successful at step 4, hopefully the feedback provided by the Expert Panel will allow you to pursue alternative funding sources. Where possible, we will help to point you in the right direction for further advice and support to enable your project to go ahead without funding from the Community Forum Budget. You may also have made some useful contacts and received useful advice from other delegates at the Community Forum Budget Decision Night.

STEP 6: DELIVER YOUR PROJECT

You can now start delivering your community project!

Once completed, you will be expected to provide feedback and evidence to confirm the project activities have taken place. You may also be asked to attend a Community Forum meeting to report on progress and/or the results of your project.